Scholarships help “rising stars” of engineering
ENGINEERING students from Birmingham are the first to take part in a scholarship programme for youngsters looking to pursue a career on HS2.
The Building Birmingham Scholarship programme has taken on 25 16-24-year-olds (about a third of them female) who are on the path to a career in the built environment sector. The students will receive education, employment and training opportunities, including financial support throughout the programme. They join 16 scholars who were taken on last year.
Birmingham City Council set up the programme with support from the Birmingham Municipal Housing Trust framework. In previous years the participants have secured work placements, gained experience and made valuable industry contacts.
“If promises are kept, Birmingham will be at the heart of the national HS2 network,” said Councillor Tahir Ali, Cabinet Member for Development, Transport and Economy at Birmingham City Council.
“We are therefore determined that our ambitious young people will be part of a highly skilled workforce delivering what is one of the biggest infrastructure projects in Europe.
“This scholarship provides access to education, employment and training opportunities, and financial support. It makes sure these rising stars are at the heart of Birmingham’s exciting future.”
One of this year’s scholars is Anisa Haque, from Bordersley Village in Birmingham. She is studying Civil Engineering at Coventry University. The youngest of seven siblings, she is the first to pursue a career in engineering.
“My sisters and brothers have followed careers in medicine, teaching and IT, but my big interest has always been engineering. I know it’s not a career that many girls have pursued, but I enjoy maths and physics, and after learning about HS2 it was an easy decision for me to follow this career path.
“Jobs in rail engineering aren’t necessarily boring, old-fashioned, dirty or dangerous. There is going to be a lot of demand for highly skilled technicians and engineers in the years to come, so I will have lots of chances for personal and professional development.
“The scholarship has been great by providing me with mentoring and advice, and supporting me through my university course. When I graduate in 2019, I’d love to work on HS2 or undertake extra vocational training at the National College for High Speed Rail. I can’t wait.”